Cessna 170B N6946C

Summary

On 16 May 2009 at about 21:45 local time, a Cessna 170B registered N6946C, operated by Chad A. Rowe, was involved in an accident near Nenana, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 May 2009 at 21:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Nenana, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Nenana Municipal Airport (ENN)

Coordinates

64.5417, -149.0711

Aircraft

Cessna 170B

Registration

N6946C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Chad A. Rowe

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fairbanks → Nenana

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC09CA045

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain control while taxiing for takeoff, and his failure to attain/maintain adequate airspeed after takeoff, resulting in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s excessive taxi speed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings on Runway 04L in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He said that after completing a series of touch-and-go landings, he inadvertently landed long, and elected to roll to the end of the runway, then back-taxi on Runway 04L before departing. The pilot reported that while back-taxiing at high speed, a gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane and he applied full engine power in an attempt to take off. He said that just after takeoff, the airplane drifted to the left and the left wing stalled. The left wing and left main landing gear wheel struck an area of grass-covered terrain and the left landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. At the time of the accident an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at the airport was reporting wind condition as variable at 4 knots. The pilot indicated in his written report to the NTSB the wind was from 070 degrees at 7 knots, gusting to 11 knots, and that he should have taxied slower.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.